Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-27
BYRD STREET STATION
THE xyw DEPOT OF THE ATLANTIC
COAST LINE.
A Desci iption Of tho Freight-HOuse.
Train.shed, Passeo ger.statiOn, Com
pany's Offices. &C., &c.


lantic Coast Line, at the foot OF Eighth
street, begun in 1885, are now about
completed. They consist OF a freight
house, train-shed, passenger-station,
&C., the last named and much Of the
shed being located on the site of the
Public Warehouse, which was pur-
chased from the State by the Coast
Line.
The freight-house is of brick and is
80 feet wide and 301 feet 6 inches long,
having at the north or Canal-street end
an office two stories in height, with a
total floor area of 1900 square feet.
TRAIN SHED.
The Unfinished measures from centres
of columns rs feet, and, together with
the overhangings at sides, s feet each,
make total width of 90 feet by total
length of 4S6 feet. 1t is for the most
part of wrought iron, and the roof, de-
signed on the Polonceaux or Fink sys-
TEN, is one OF the strongest and best
constructions of its kind in this coun-
try. The train-shed as well as the
freight-house is lighted from the Ian
tern ridge with Yeillc & Young's patent
roof light, consisting of heavy ham
mered plate-glass in wrought-iron
frames, and the smoke from the engines
escapes through open courses in the
one case and from the lantern of the
freight-house by openings arranged
with movable sash.
BAGGAGE-HoUsE.
In connection with the train-shed,
and covered by an extension OF the roof
at the side towards Seventh street, is
the baggnge-house, % feet wide and -
long, now used temporarily as passen-
ger station.
PASSENGER STATION.
The style of architecture chosen for
the passenger station is a free render
ing of the Romanesque-a type of
building eminently adapted to modern
requirements, and its bold parts accen-
tuated here and there by ornaments, sug
gested by the construction, stamp it as
being the style par excellence for rail
road buildings.
The passenger depot covers a rectan-
gle measuring 80 feet on Seventh
street by 40 feet on Canal street equal
to $4,000 square feet, and providing
total floor surface of 81, 6S3 square feet.
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
The accommodation for the public is
located entirely on the ground floor,
and consists of a general waiting-room
80 feet by 76 feet. This room is located
in the centre of the building, and
serves as a general thoroughfare to and
from all public rooms. Upon it opens
the ladies' waiting-roOm, l. shaped, 80
feet by 10 feet. This room is situated
on the northeast corner, commanding
views of Seventh and Canal streets.
On the opposite ornorthwest corner
ticket Office II feet by 33 feet inter-
vening-is located the dining-roon, 90
feet by 33l feet, communicating with the
restaurant, % feet by 80 feet. Adj
joining the restaurant is the kitchen,
20 feet by % feet, having its stair,
pantry, &C., in an Independent depart
ment 10 feet by % feet. Communi-
eating with a store-room in the base
ment is large lift capable of raising
2,00O pounds. The toilet-rooms face
on Canal street, having direct commu-
nication with the waiting-rooms. The
size of the ladies' toilet-room is ~
feet by AZ feet; that of the mems II
feet by 13 feet.
sUSDRY ROOMS.
On either side of the entrance
from Canal street, Is feet in width
and opening into the large wait
ing-room, .are situated the offices for
the Pullman-Car Company and West
ern Union telegraph. The rear en-
trance, nearly the same width, affords
access to subordinate stair leading TO
the offices in second story. and opening
from it is the smoking-room, 90 feet by
% feet, facing on the train.shed. For
the convenience of management the
stationmasters-room 12I feet by IS
feet, conductor Us feet by 20
feet, and train-dispatcher (12l feet by
% feet, are located on the ground
floor, facing on the train-shed.
The offices in the second and third
stories are reached by broad
stairway approached from Canal street.
the entrance hall containing same mea-
surfing 12i feet by 26 feet. In addition
to the accommodation above enume-
rated, there is a parcels and news
room feet by % feet and a fire-proof
vault s. feet by 9! feet.
SECOND STORY.
The second story contains two stair
halls-the principal one 90 feet by 22i
feet, the other Z feet by 20 feet-a di-
rectors' room % feet by "a feet, two
fre-proof vaults 8 feet by s feet and s
feet by 8 feet, toilet-room III feet by
II feet, and fourteen large offices, COM
munication with which is had by
gallery extending around the general
waiting-room, feet in width. The
third story contains stair-hall 22l feet
by 26 feet, toilet-room IL feet by II
feet, and seven offices. The fourth
floor is one large room for storage.
Many of the offices have open fire
places, and the building throughout
is heated by steam.
THE EXTERIOR.
Externally, the building presents an
wall surface relieved by bold
and the introduction of a
recessed bay over the office entrance.
Further relief is obtained by the irreg-
ularity of roof-lines and the emphasis
given to the chimney-stacks. The
building is divided into nearly equal
blocks in plan, that next the train
shed being four stories in height, and
that next to Seventh street being two
stories in height and covered with
ponderous roof, 80 feet to ridge from
the caves. The heights of stories are
as follows: First floor, Is feet; second
floor, IA feet third floor, 10 feet, and
fourth floor, to ridge, 20 feet. The
base, which runs entirely round the
building, is of Richmond granite, 6 feet
6 inches high, and has a batir 81
inches; the stone is laid up in
broken range, rock face, and
"pitched." Above the base line
the facing and arches are laid
up with Richmond press-brick, laid In
red mortar. A strong belt course Of
specially -made bricks, with terra-cotta
consoles and corner stops, indicates